Shining Bright

The fifth day at the NSBA World Show shined bright as exhibitors across all disciplines. Today’s winners feature incredible horses, exhibitors and owners who create true champions.

She’s Willy Awesome, affectionately known as “Booger” has been competing in the Trail arena all week, but switched gears this morning and walked into the $2,500 Limited Rider/$2,500 Horse Western Pleasure class with Clint Ainsworth. “She’s very good in the Trail,” explained Clint. “We were lucky enough to win the 4-5-year-old Trail yesterday. However, a true all-arounder, she has also done well in the Western Pleasure. “They talked me into riding in this class and I have no experience,” laughed Clint, who is obviously more comfortable in classes off the rail. “I was pretty nervous today. While I was out there I was trying to think of everything they told me, to stay relaxed and just implement everything they told me to do. I don’t know if I’m good at [Pleasure] now, but I think the horse was well prepared but I did have fun!”

Gone Viral, aka “Monkey” walked out of the show pen this morning after his last class of the World Show. He walked in five times and walked out with a World Championship title five times. His rider, Kari Craft was in awe of the ride he’s had. “I can’t ask any more of him. I felt really good about [the ride]. I knew we were having a good ride. He’s so easy to show. He’s just great. Kari describes Gone Viral’s show success as “unbelievable”. We’re five for five and we’re done after this!” She continued, “I think he’s such a special horse, and I think it takes a special horse to do what he’s done here.”

Sid Carr knows what it feels like “almost make it”. Last year, he placed Reserve in the BCF Color 3-6-year-old Non Pro Western Pleasure with 6-year-old Hide Your Crazy. However, this year, with a huge smile on his face, he was named Champion. “ I did it! I feel wonderful. This is my very first Pleasure win and I’m thrilled to death.” He continued, “I pulled her out of the broodmare pasture and started riding her. She’s as honest as they come. I love riding her.”

Aubrey Alderman is no stranger to success, at eighteen years old, she has won numerous NSBA and AQHA awards and like a true champion, she added the BCF 2-year-old Intermediate Non Pro Western Pleasure to her list. The incoming college Freshman described her emotions as “really excited”. Aubrey rode Live N It Up “Gismo” for the first time today and hit it off with the 2-year-old. “I knew going into it that it was going to be tough, but it’s my first time showing him so I just wanted to have a good ride and get a feel for him.”

She continued, “He’s got a great personality. He’s so loveable and always wants to be right in your pocket.” The goal is for Aubrey to continue showing Gismo into his 3-year-old year. No doubt this pair will continue to be great!

Over in the Senior Trail, NSBA’s largest World Show class with 122 entries, Snap Krackle Pop ruled the pen walking away with another World Championship. Blake Weis, who also won Jr. Trail earlier in the week described their ride as “really good.” He continued, “She loves her job. She loves the Trail because it makes her think. She went out there and really focused. She’s kind of funny because she looks around and you don’t always think she’s focusing but she always is.”

Away from the competitive arenas today, the NSBA Markel Insurance Yearling Sale Preview gathered sellers, potential buyers, and enthusiasts to the Super Duty Arena to get a glimpse of future champions. The sale will take place tomorrow at 4:00 pm.

For more information, please visit www.nsba.com and like NSBA-National Snaffle Bit Association on Facebook and Instagram.

2016 Annual Awards Banquet

As the NSBA World Show continued at the Tulsa Expo Center NSBA members began preparing for a night of glamour and awards. Attendees gathered together for dinner at promptly 7:00 pm in the banquet hall and seamlessly transitioned into the special awards presentations for the 2016 Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Presentation.

Leslie Lange, NSBA’s newest member of the prestigious Hall Of Fame stood on stage after being granted the honor. She reminisced about her Youth years being raised on a working ranch, competing at her first AQHA show, and when she, “was forced into a professional career unknowingly,” after she competed on her trainer’s horses in the Open division when she was seventeen. It seems obvious that Leslie’s true calling was to be a professional as she has made a tremendous impact on the industry she is most passionate.

Great Competition on Day Three

The third day of the NSBA World Championship Show started off with a bang and continued until the last class went back to the stalls.

Kristin Galyean and VS Lady In Red graced the Maturity Non Pro Western Pleasure and were awarded two titles in the Maturity Non Pro and Intermediate Non Pro Western Pleasure. Kristin has owned the mare since her weanling year and placed her in training with Gil Galyean. “I’ve had a lot of fun with her. I took her home at the end of the year last year to learn the western riding and we’ll be showing in that later this week.” Kristin continued to praise her mare on her ride this morning. “I think was really good today. We’re still getting to know each other in the show pen, so I think we’re getting the feel of each other. She’s been a lot of fun.”

KM Suddenly So Easy really makes her job look easy with Casey Willis. So easy, that the pair walked away with a trophy in the BCF 4-6-year-old Open Western Pleasure.

A farm raised mare, she is truly special to Casey and her owners, Ken and Marilyn. She was Casey’s AQHA first world title during his first year working at the Masterson Farm, which as Ken declared, “makes her special across the board for all of us.”

As for what makes this particular win special, Casey said, “They’re all special. It was a good class and any day anyone can win it.”

Drew DeBuhr was almost at a loss for words after he won both the 2-year-old Open and Intermediate Open Western Pleasure. “It’s just really exciting. Yeah, it’s awesome.” His partner, Mr Zippos Good Bar, “has been great since day one.” Drew described his ride as “excellent”. “ I don’t know what it looked like but it felt excellent.” He continued, “It’s the 2-year-old Open. That’s where everyone wants to get, so that makes it special. It’s just special for my whole team.

As Linda Neese came out of the gate, trophy in hand, she exclaimed, “I got one! Finally!” After experiencing bad luck at last year’s world show, today’s win with For One Night Only, aka Sid is extra special. “I knew I had to get out there, relax my feet and just go for it.” She certainly wowed the judges. To add to the excitement, this was Linda’s second show with Sid. I’m so happy! I’m just thrilled!”

Angela Fox got HP The Rusty Fox ten days ago and was not for sure if she would even show the 2-year-old at the NSBA World Show. After she won the BCF 2-year-old Non Pro and Limited Non Pro, she is glad she took the leap. After purchasing the horse from HP Performance Horses in Arkansas, she took “Rusty”, who was being trained in the Western Pleasure by Darren Putinum, to Beth Case and tried him out in the Hunter Under Saddle. Everyone was pleased with the results. “ He was great. He handled the traffic perfectly, kept his ears forward, cantered so great, so he’s really easy to ride.”

Rosie Sheffer’s Reserve Champion in the BCF 3-year-old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle was a special win on multiple levels. After breaking her back earlier in the year, Rosie was uncertain if she would be able to show this season. However, four months later, she climbed back in the irons and prepared to ride Blazin Away My Blues, “Harris”, who happened to be a BCF sale graduate. “He was bought as a yearling, shown at the World Show as a 2-year-old, then brought him back this year.” Rosie hopes to continue bringing Harris back year after year.

Ending the day was the Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure. Rusty Green came out on top with Hereicomeagain, who had competed in the Trail pen all day. “She’s a bit tired,” explained Rusty, but like a true champion pushed through to end up with the title.

NSBA gears up for more BCF classes, Trail, and more as the show continues tomorrow.

In addition to the show, the NSBA Foundation Silent Auction ends tomorrow at noon and the NSBA Year End Awards Ceremony, Hall of Fame, and Quarter Million Dollar Club Presentation will take place tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm.

For a full list of classes, events, and information, please visit www.nsba.com and follow NSBA-National Snaffle Bit Association on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Champions Reigned the BCF Classes on the 2nd Day of the NSBA World Show

The second day of the 2017 NSBA World Championship started gloomy as rain fell, but in the arenas, exhibitors shined bright. The BCF and Maturity classes started in full force in the Ford arena.

Mares dominated the winner’s circle during the morning hours. Keith Miller and Pretty Assets won the Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle. “We’re [just] trying to start her back for the season”, explained Keith, relaying that the mare spent the early part of the year in the breeding shed.

“She was really good today,” exclaimed Keith.

Sarneai Thompson and her mare, Because Shes Worth It, walked away with the BCF Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Championship. “[This show] was really good,” shared Sharnai. “We’ve taken time off and neither of us has shown since Florida which was six months ago.” She laughed, “I actually pulled my helmet out and there was mold on it since it hasn’t been used in so long!”

Sharnai believes that the time out of the show pen for both her and her mare was a good move. “She feels really good and fresh. She’s three-years-old and huge so she’s obviously still growing.”

The Dreams Begin - 2017 NSBA World Show Officially Starts

The arena air was electric as the atmosphere sizzled with World Show expectations and promises on the first day of the 2017 NSBA World Championship Show.

The Working Hunter Derby started off the show, setting the standard high. Linda Crothers and Kamayawannadance waltzed to the first World Championship of 2017. She proudly rode a victory lap and patted “Collin” on the neck.

Linda and “Collin”, also known as “Mr. Perfect”, have partnered in shows past, even though she is not his main rider. “We haven’t been this successful, but finally, I thought, ‘I’ll just let him do his job [today]’ and it worked.”